Assistant Planner

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under supervision (Assistant Planner) or general supervision (Planner), perform a variety of technical and professional City Planning, Zoning, and Land Use activities and assignments; prepare staff reports for City boards and commissions involved in planning and land use issues; explain, interpret and apply zoning, sign, and municipal planning ordinances, regulations, and polices to the public; provide a variety of public assistance in responding to inquiries and answering questions related to planning and land use issues, applications, and permits and perform related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Assistant Planner This is the entry and first working level in the Planner class series with incumbents expected to perform a more narrow scope of assignments under closer supervision. Planner This is the first experienced working level in the technical, professional Planner class series. Incumbents are expected to be familiar with City land use policies and perform a variety of technical and professional planning assignments. It is distinguished from the lower level of Assistant Planner by the scope of assignments and degree of independence with which an incumbent functions. It is distinguished from the higher level of Associate Planner by the fact that Associate Planner is the fully experienced class with incumbents performing the full range of current and advanced planning.

REPORTS TO

Planning Manager or designee.

CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED

Incumbents may provide work direction, coordination, and training for technical planning support staff and less experienced professional planning personnel.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices. Perform a variety of professional planning work including both current and advanced planning; participate in the review, development, revision and maintenance of General Plan elements, plans, zoning ordinances, and other policies and procedures. Conduct a variety of research and data collection and analysis for land use development, zoning history, and compliance with City land use ordinances and policies. Assist with grant projects and special projects; prepare project reports. Gather and organize a variety of information, preparing staff reports on items for elected or appointed boards, commissions and the City Council concerned with planning and land use issues and develop and make oral presentations of findings and recommendations. Assist the public and developers with problems and inquiries regarding land development, business licenses, planning issues, permit procedures and requirements, signage, and zoning and receive and respond to zoning violation complaints. Interpret and apply zoning ordinances, sign ordinances, and Municipal Code requirements to a variety of land use issues. Review industrial, commercial, residential, and sign building permits for zoning and ordinance compliance. Process entitlements including permits and determinations, including the preparation of staff and administrative reports, public hearing notices, environmental documents, graphics, and oral presentations. Interpret use permits in accordance with applicable codes, ordinances and regulations. Process site plan approvals, minor subdivision proposals, agreements, temporary encroachment permits, street closures and requests to use City-owned property. Provide technical support for a variety of City land use entities. Enforce zoning and sign code violations in association with the Code Enforcement Division, as needed. Attend meetings with developers on preliminary and active development projects. Perform related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

Basic operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program. Modern theory, principles, practices, and techniques of current and advanced planning including land use, environmental policy analysis, municipal service delivery, physical design, demographics, and economic and social concepts as applied to municipal planning and a variety of planning problems. Purposes and procedures of public planning agencies, boards, and governing bodies. Laws, rules, regulations, policies, and acts affecting land use and zoning. Basic principles of building and fire codes. General Plan policies and goals. Methods and techniques of research and statistical analysis, graphic illustration, and presentation applicable to the preparation of municipal planning studies. Environmental impacts of changes in land use. Software used in professional planning work. Methods and techniques of design and site planning. Development review procedures and requirements. Recent developments, current literature, research methods, and sources of information related to municipal planning, urban growth, and development. Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation. Methods and techniques of organization and project and time management. Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to:

Perform professional planning duties in the development, implementation, and modification of City plans and regulations including planning studies, environmental reviews, and zoning administration enforcement. Read, interpret, analyze, apply, implement and explain pertinent Federal, State, and local codes, laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations including departmental policies and administrative directives. Read and interpret General Plan elements, environmental impact statements, and other documents related to community planning and land use. Collect, compile and analyze technical, statistical, and other information related to public planning and land use. Read and interpret maps, design and construction plans and specifications, graphs, and statistical data. Prepare a variety of staff, technical, and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence including for planning, environmental and zoning. Use appropriate software in the performance of professional planning work. Use pertinent systems to develop maps and public hearing notice distribution lists. Make and conduct effective oral and written presentations. Effectively represent the City Planning functions in responding to inquiries, providing assistance, and dealing with public and community organization concerns about planning, land use, and zoning. Apply policies, procedures, and standards pertaining to the municipal planning process. Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public. Develop recommendations regarding the use of property. Process routine development applications and coordinate necessary communication between staff, developer, and other agencies. Analyze projects and potential projects for consistency with planning regulations, general planning principles, and architectural quality. Present technical data in verbal, written, graphic, and map form to City management staff and variety of boards and commissions. Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, Council members, committee and commission members, and the general public. Deal effectively and courteously with the public including in difficult situations. Convey information to the public in an understandable manner. Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Assistant Planner Education/Training:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning or a related field.

Experience:

One year of responsible professional or paraprofessional urban or regional planning and zoning experience is highly desirable.

License or Certificate:

Possession of an appropriate California Driver License.

Planner Education/Training:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning or a related field.

Experience:

Two years of experience in city or county planning, including zoning administration, long range planning, or environmental assessment comparable to that of an Assistant Planner with the City of Merced.

License or Certificate:

Possession of an appropriate California Driver License.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential job functions.

Environment :

Work is performed in an office environment; occasionally work outside; continuous contact with staff and the public; and may require irregular working hours and occasional overtime.

Physical :

Frequently stand and walk; sit for extended periods; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to 25 pounds; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; and use of office equipment, including computers, audio-visual equipment, telephones, calculators, copiers, and FAX.